Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
117 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN
Nestled deep in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains lies the beautiful Roaring Fork Motor Trail, a scenic 5.5-mile (8.8-kilometer) loop that winds past cascading waterfalls, historic log cabins, and the Roaring Fork Stream. The quiet and peaceful setting brings people from all walks of life.
You can explore the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on a self-guided adventure or prebook a guided hiking or Jeep tour that takes you through certain portions with a guide who knows the history and secret spots. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail features four waterfalls; Rainbow Falls, Grotto Falls, Baskin Creek Falls, and Place of a Thousand Drips. Wildlife including bears are in the area, so be aware of your surroundings while you explore on foot.
Even though the drive straight through only takes about 30 minutes at a slow pace, you should carve out between 1.5 hours and three hours for your visit if you plan to make stops to explore.
There is no entrance fee at Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg, but if you plan to park your car for more than 15 minutes at a time, you need a parking tag.
The only place to use a toilet during the trail trip is in the area near Grotto Falls—this is a good place to stop if you have kiddos.
To get to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, head toward Gatlinburg. Turn off the main parkway in the city and follow the Historic Nature Trail Road to the Cherokee Orchard entrance of the national park. Keep going, and just past the Rainbow Falls trailhead, you’ll see the signs to hop on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
Even though the Roaring Fork Motor Trail is open all day, the best time to get there is the early morning. Being one of the first visitors there ensures you won’t have to be stuck behind a huge line of cars taking the path slowly and ensures you can find parking at the areas you want to stop at, especially near Grotto Falls. The trail is closed for most of the wintertime between November and April.
Another great scenic drive in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains is the Newfound Gap Road, a 30-minute drive from the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It takes about an hour to drive through. Also, Clingmans Dome Road will be a main highlight of your trip when you add the walk up to Clingmans Dome Observation Tower for amazing views, too.
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